Friday, August 23, 2013

Pumas Injury Crisis deepens - Juan Imhoff out

Tuculet playing for Grenoble

Argentina´s preperation for Saturday´s Rugby Championship match against South Africa has not been easy. Captain Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and veteran secondrower Patricio Albacete were both joined on the sidelines this week by Juan Martín Hernández and Manuel Carizza. None of the four players will be involved in the Mendoza test and nor will Racing Métro winger Juan Imhoff. The Rosario speedster´s participation was placed in doubt by mediacal staff and Santiago Phealn decided to take no chances.

Replacing Imhoff on the becnh will be Joaquín Tuculet. The 24 year old is yet to play a match in the Rugby Championship. He was not a part of the 2012 squad but did feature in the June and November internationals, earning five caps. Tuculet has played in England for the Sale Sharks and in France for Grenoble in addition to playing for Los Pampas XV in the Vodacom Cup. Capable of playing fullback, wing or outside centre Tuculet is set to provide Argentina with a number of replacement options with Santiago Fernández covering flyhalf and inside centre.